The South American government released a statement on Tuesday saying that while it "stands by its decision" in 2012 to grant Assange asylum, it doesn't interfere in foreign elections.

WikiLeaks, known for its frequent release of confidential information about governments as well as private organisations and individuals, said on Twitter on Monday that Ecuador had severed Assange’s internet access Saturday afternoon.

The holed-up hacker, who sought refuge in the embassy four years ago to avoid extradition over sex assault allegations, lost internet access shortly after WikiLeaks published information about speeches that Hilary Clinton gave to Goldman Sachs.

ASSANGE WOES

Assange and WikiLeaks posted emails hacked from the Democratic National Committee and from John D. Podesta, a senior official in Clinton’s campaign, some of which have been highly embarrassing to the Democrats.

The scripts reveal her bantering relationship with the investment bank's execs, which is unlikely to allay fears among liberal Democrats that she is too cosy with Wall Street.

While Clinton's team has neither confirmed nor denied the leaked emails are authentic, there have been no indications they are fake.

WikiLeaks earlier accused the US of asking Ecuador to stop the site publishing documents about presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Target . . . leak is said to be hugely damaging for US presidential contender Clinton

Ecuador's foreign ministry denied its move was the result of pressure from the US.

The US state department said the allegation was "simply untrue".

Leftist President Rafael Correa's government published a statement saying it "exercised its right" to "temporarily restrict access to some of (WikiLeaks') private communications network within its Embassy in the United Kingdom".

The statement mentions the "wealth of documents" published by WikiLeaks that have impacted the US election campaign, and that the government of Ecuador "does not interfere in external electoral processes, nor does it favor any particular candidate".

It added: "Ecuador does not cede to pressures from other countries."

The extent of the restrictions on Assange's access to the web were not specified.

Pamela Anderson delivers lunch to Julian Assange at Embassy of Ecuador on October 15

"While our concerns about WikiLeaks are longstanding, any suggestion that Secretary (John) Kerry or the State Department were involved in shutting down WikiLeaks is false,' State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.

WikiLeaks said it activated 'contingency plans' after Assange's cut-off, and Ecuador said that its action did not stop the group continuing 'journalistic activities.'

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa has long backed Assange's right to free speech and has also supported Clinton publicly.

"For the good of the United States and the world ... I would like Hillary to win,"he told broadcaster Russia Today last month.

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